This chapter is riddled with foolishness and unfaithfulness on Saul’s part. Samuel’s condemnation of Saul and his reign is coming true (recall 1Sam 13:14).
The day begins with Jonathan taking a risk. God is at work and Hebrew victory begins to unfold. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, his father has made a foolish vow disallowing his men to eat until victory is secured (24)! This foolish vow leads to a number of troubles.
First and foremost, when Jonathan rejoins the troops in pursuit of the Philistines, he eats some honey breaking his father’s oath.
Next after victory is secured, the men jump on the plunder, eating without properly preparing the meat (eating meat with blood in it). Saul does the right thing by stopping this action, but his foolishness was the reason the men were so famished.
The big trouble arises when God’s anger flares at the breaking of the vow. The lot falls to Jonathan as the sinner. According to Saul’s oath, Jonathan should die but the men prevail upon Saul and he lets Jonathan live.
On the one hand this is good since Jonathan is portrayed as an innocent victim of circumstances he didn’t know. On the other hand Saul shows he is not a man of his word before his men and more importantly before the Lord.
A Jephthah Saul is NOT (recall Judges 10:6ff).
Foolishness and foolish vows get us into all kinds of trouble. This is one thing I am seeing in today’s reading.
I don’t want to give the impression I condone ritual killing but neither is it right to make vows to the Lord and then disregard them when they are no longer convenient or the price of fulfilling them is too high! Vows to the Lord are a sacred oath.
On so many levels today chapter is troubling. I sit in anguish at the unfolding of this account…
The whisper of God does not relive my anguish, it simply reminds me that vows made to the Lord are sacred and not to be enjoined impulsively. Is it any wonder that Proverbs has many warnings about impulsive words?
Lord, may my words be wise and my heart pure today as I live for You. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment